Meet the man who might beat Del. Bob Marshall, removing the Commonwealth’s best known bigot

Virginia’s anti-LGBTQ history is hard to trace, but if you had to pin point the moment it became mainstream, you could probably say one of the largest turning points was in 2006 with the passage of the Marshall Newman Amendment, banning same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth.

The two politicians who’s names appear in the legislation – Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) and Sen. Steven Newman (R-23) – are both still in office. And while the issue of marriage equality might be solved thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year, one of the afore mentioned elected officials, Bob Marshall, continues his personal crusade against LGBTQ Virginians.

Marshall’s anti-LGBTQ history is impressive and reads like a laundry list of bigotry and twisted allegiances to “gods will.”

But that might change if Gainesville resident Don Shaw (top image, middle) has anything to say about it.

The democratic candidate running running against longtime incumbent Marshal, Shaw led a distinguished career in the military and the public sector.

Born and raised in Appalachia, Shaw was the son of a railroad diesel mechanic. After graduating high school in Ashland, Kentucky, he joined the military, where his service included listening to sensitive Russian communications and interpreting during international arms control inspections.

After 15 years of active duty, he transitioned from the Army to the Air National Guard, and retired five years later. Shaw then worked eight years as a senior manager in the federal government before entering the private sector.

Residing in Prince William County since 1997 (where the family’s three children all either graduated from or attend county schools), Shaw’s decision to run for delegate consisted of a myriad of factors, but Marshall’s anti-LGBTQ history was a big part of it.

“I’m a firm believer in marriage for all,” said Shaw in an interview with GayRVA. But his support doesn’t stop at marriage equality, he said he believes that you “shouldn’t be discriminated against for who you love.”

For Shaw, Marshall’s stance on LGBTQ issues hits particularly close to home – his 23-year-old son, Jon (pictured below), is a member of the LGBTQ community.

“He wants to live, raise a family, and contribute to the economy of Virginia,” Shaw said. “He shouldn’t be discriminated against because of who he is. “When we start to institutionalize discrimination where do we stop? You can pick a group and go from there.”

Shaw brought up the lack of workplace protections for LGBTQ workers. “My son could be married in the morning and fired in the afternoon,” he said.